Ministry of Defence Spends Millions on Independent Schools to Avoid Welsh Education
The Ministry of Defence allocates around £1m each year to place children to private schools in north Wales because "public schools teach some or all lessons in the Welsh language".
It paid over one million pounds in day school allowance in north Wales for 83 children of service personnel in the current academic year, and nearly one million pounds for seventy-nine students in the previous year under a established policy.
A spokesperson said "service children can face regular relocations" and the allowance "seeks to minimize interruption to their education".
Plaid Cymru called it a "complete waste of money" and "a disrespect to our language" while the Tory party argued families should be able to choose the language in which their kids are taught.
The figures were acquired following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
The website of RAF Valley on Anglesey tells its personnel, "if you live and serve in northern Wales, where public schools teach various classes in the Welsh language, you can opt to send your kids to an English-medium private institution".
"Provided you are joined by your family at your posting, you can utilize this allowance to cover the cost of school charges, field study trips/residential learning programs and daily transport."
A defense ministry representative told, "the purpose of the educational stipend in North Wales (the allowance) is to support military households posted to the region, where the Welsh tongue is the primary medium of public schooling".
"As mobility is a aspect of military career, military kids can face regular transfers and the this allowance aims to minimize disruption to their learning."
"The ministry supports the contributions military members, and their families make, and through DSA-NW assists with the expenses of independent day schooling provided in the English language."
'Where teaching is bilingual or non-English'
The benefit covers tuition fees up to a limit of twenty-two thousand seven hundred fifty-five pounds annually, £7,585 per term, and is accessible to people living in the regions of Conwy, Denbighshire, the locality, the island or the district and serving in one of the following establishments:
- RAF Valley, Anglesey
- The combined forces alpine training facility, the island
- The joint military mountain unit, Llanrwst
- Wales University Officers' Training Corps (UOTC), Bangor detachment, the city
The qualifying independent institutions are Treffos institution, the village, the island; Rydal Penrhos Prep school in Colwyn Bay; St Gerard's school, Bangor and St David's College, Llandudno.
The relevant military policy document states that "payment of the stipend is limited to those areas where teaching in the state sector is on a bilingual or non-English basis".
Personnel serving elsewhere in the three branches of the armed forces - the Army, the Royal Navy and the air service - can apply for a continuity of education allowance which contributes towards boarding and/or school charges up to a maximum rate, with a required family share of 10% for each qualifying student.
Welsh Conservative Senedd member the politician commented "personnel of the British armed forces relocate across the country and the globe, and the MoD have always tried to guarantee that their kids have availability to consistency in schooling".
"Although we strongly endorse Welsh-medium education across Wales, it's crucial to recognize there are dual recognized tongues in our country, English and the Welsh language, and local councils and school boards should accommodate each."
"Families should always have the choice to decide the language in which their kids are instructed."
Plaid Cymru's education spokesperson Cefin Campbell MS said "not just is this a complete waste of money, it is an insult to our language".
"It's hard to imagine any valid reason to be allocating these funds every year, on preventing youth residing in Wales from having the opportunity to acquire the Welsh tongue."
"Bilingualism enhances life and supports the growth of young people, but the British administration is clearly unaware to this."
"This money is a perfect example of the attitude of the Westminster parties regarding Wales and the native tongue - namely ignorance and insults."
